Seconds battle against the odds at Castle Cary

22/04/06 - Friendly: Castle Cary 39 v 15 North Petherton 2nd XV

Report from the Bridgwater Mercury

Petherton Seconds gave a good account of themselves against Cary's Firsts in warm conditions on Saturday afternoon. Having taken 16 players, Pethy lost four of them over the course of the match. Mike Gray was the first to have to leave the pitch with a rib injury, followed by Brian Stenson (ankle) and Gary Coles (fatigue). Spaxton player Matt Varcoe, on the bench due to a head injury picked up last weekend, replaced Stenson, but had to go off himself when he was unfortunate to get a knock in the same place.

Castle Cary were generous hosts, lending the visitors three players to keep it at 15-a-side, and Petherton's Pack were able to overcome these set-backs to dominate the scrum and line-out. However, the loss of players meant that the visitors could not match the home sides cutting edge behind the scrum.

Petherton briefly led through a drop-goal from fly-half Cameron Kirk, and by half-time were only 18-10 down thanks to a converted try by second-row Mike Coles who was, again, outstanding in the Petherton pack.

In the second half centre Stuart Pearn went over for Petherton's second try, and it was not until late in the game that two tries put the hosts out of sight. Flanker Kev Gray, returning to action following a back injury, had an all-action match in the Petherton back-row.